This Agile success story is drawn from the experience report “Building Bridges for Corporate Agility” written by Yuliia Pieskova.
At SimCorp, a global fintech leader, development teams faced a quiet struggle. Sprint reviews, meant to be interactive and insightful, had devolved into passive reporting sessions. Teams felt disconnected from users, and a culture of fear stifled open dialogue.
At stake was more than operational efficiency; it was the chance to foster team morale, streamline collaboration, and deliver greater value to stakeholders. To succeed, Agile principles had to be embraced not as rules, but as a transformative mindset.
Barriers to change
Rigid practices and fear
Reporting-style reviews, a holdover from waterfall days, prevented meaningful feedback. Fear of judgment discouraged teams from admitting challenges, creating a culture of hesitation.
Structural and mindset issues
Delivering end-to-end functionality required cross-team collaboration, yet siloed operations slowed progress. Teams focused on outputs rather than outcomes, limiting their ability to connect their work to user value.
Transformation through Agile values
Collaboration: Energizing Sprint reviews
Training sessions reframed Sprint reviews as collaborative opportunities for feedback and growth. Practices like rotating presenters, brainstorming agendas, and inviting consultants breathed new life into meetings. Reviews became dynamic forums where ideas and insights flourished.
Adaptability: Iterating for improvement
Teams experimented with new formats, gradually moving from team-specific reviews to functionality-focused sessions. This shift, though challenging, created alignment and reinforced the Agile value of adaptability.
Customer focus: Engaging end-users
Inviting users to Sprint reviews marked a turning point. Teams tailored demos to real-world scenarios, fostering a dialogue that bridged the gap between creators and consumers. Empathy grew, and feedback became a vital tool for innovation.
Resolution and success
Measurable outcomes
- Shorter feedback loops: Faster, actionable insights improved development efficiency.
- Streamlined collaboration: Functionality-focused reviews unified efforts across teams.
- Productivity gains: Lead time for user-requested features dropped by 15%.
Cultural shift
Transparency and continuous improvement became second nature. Teams embraced feedback, improved presentation skills, and strengthened cross-departmental relationships. Agile’s core principles turned everyday processes into purposeful, value-driven practices.
Agile as a mindset
SimCorp’s journey illustrates the power of Agile as a flexible mindset. By prioritizing collaboration, adaptability, and customer focus, the teams transformed not just their Sprint Reviews but their approach to delivering value. Agile’s strength lies in its ability to evolve with the needs of its practitioners, proving that meaningful change starts with small, deliberate steps.
In the end, Agile isn’t just about the sprint—it’s about the journey to continuous improvement and real impact.
Read the original experience report “Building Bridges for Corporate Agility” by Yuliia Pieskova.
